Combined cigar branding and trimming machine.



` No. 644,296. Pate'nted Feb. 27, |900.

` F. LEVECK.

COMBINED ClGAH BRANDING AND`TR|MM|NG MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 6, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet No Model.)

Patented Feb. 27, |900.

F. LEVECK.

CUMBINED GIGAR BRANDING AND TRIMMING MACHINE.

(Application led Dec. 6, 1899.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

t Wl/gli?- 'mi Norms Pneus so. moraumu.. wwmNGTDN, n, c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

FRANK LEVEOK, OF PAVTUOKET, RHODE ISLAND.

COMBINED CIGAR BRANDING AND TRIIVIMING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,296, dated February 27, 1900.

Application led December 6,1899I` Serial No. 739,453. (Nomoclel.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLEVECK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pawtucket, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Oigar Branding and Trimming Machine; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suoli as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in a combined cigar branding and trimming machine; and the purpose of my invention is to provide a machine in which the cigar may be branded and securely held by one portion of the mechanism, while it is trimmed at the same time with another part of the mechanism, and in which the trimming device is insulated from the source of heat used to heat the brand or stamp. I accomplish these objects by the mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis a side elevation of my machine; Fig. 2, a portion of the same, showing a cigar as it is being branded. Fig. 3 is a vertical end view; Fig. 4, a sectional View through the fire-box and source of heat, and Fig. 5 a completed and stamped cigar.

The same letters refer to the same parts of the mechanism throughout the various iigures.

In Fig. 1, A is the framework of the machine, and B a hollow box (shown in section in Fig. 2) into which projects the tip of a gasburner C. Securely fastened to the base of A is the iixed tube c, acting as aguide to a cylindrical plunger b and permitting said plunger to slide easily up and down therein, the travel of b being determined bythe slot b and the screw b.

s is a spiral spring keeping the plunger b b at the top of its travel when not in use. Connected with b b and fixed thereon at the top is the arm Z, terminating in the holder d, pivoted on Z by the pin e. Immediately over the 5o fire-box is the brand or stamp le, having thereon letters or characters projecting in relief k.

Secured to the end of the frame A is the trimmerfe', the knife t' being kept up when not in use by the spiral spring h, surrounding 5 5 the pin g, on which the knife t' revolves.

The brand 7e is adjusted to various shapes of cigars by means of the screws 'u o.

In working my machine the cigar is placed on the brand Ze, the holder d is brought down 6o firmly upon the cigar by the plunger b and knob a, so that the vheated brand 7e may stamp the required device plainly on the side of the cigar, and without releasing the cigar the operator brings down the trimmer e', cutting the 65 end of the cigar off square, as shown at e", Fig. 5. The pressure is then released on both c and f and the operation is completed.

In all combined trimming and branding machines now in use, so far as known to me,-the 7o trimming-knife itself is connected in various ways with the body of the machine. As a result the knife becomes heated from the gas or other llame used to heat the brand and the temperis speedily destroyed and the handle of the trimmer frequently becomes too hot for the hand of the operator. This is impossible in my device, as the tlame of the burner O is iirst of all surrounded by the fire-box B, and, in addition, the trimming portion of the 8o machine is entirely insulated from the source of heat by the air-space o. The base A of the entire machine being constructed, preferably, of Wood or some other non-conducting material, or, if made of metal, being insulated by 8 5 asbestos, will not conduct any appreciable amount of heat to the trimmer.

I am aware that prior to my invention branding-machines have been devised which incorporate a stationary brand and a recipro- 9o eating plunger and that combined branding and cutting machines have been used in which the brand was pressed upon the cigar and the end of the cigar trimmed by the same operation. I am not aware, however, that any combined branding and trimming machine has been devised in which the llame is surrounded by a nre-box and in which the trimming apparatus is insulated from the branding pcrmachine and separated from the burner and ro tion. fire-box by an airspace 0, all as described.

What I claim, therefore,- and desire to se- In testimony whereof I ax my signature cure by Letters Patent, isin presence of tWo Witnesses.

In a cigar trimming and branding machine 1 y the combination of a burner surrounded by a L RANK LEVECB' fire-box B, a vertical reciprocating plunger Witnesses: adapted to press the cigar against the brand; `LELLAN J. TUCK, and a trimming device iixed to the base of the FLORENCE E. BATES. 

